Samuel t



S. T. WILLIAMS.

(No Model.)

WHEEL.

Patented Sept. 23, 1884.

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SAMUEL T. XVILLIAMS, OF RED BANK, NElV JERSEY.

WHEEL.

SFHOIFICATION forming part oi Letters Patent No. 305,727, datedSeptember 23, 1884.

Application filed November 6, 1853. (No modehl To all whom it imyconcern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. WILLIAMS a citizen of the United States,residing at Red Bank, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheels, of whichthe following is afull,clear,and exact description.

Thisinvention relates to that class of vehicle-wheels constructedentirely, or nearly so, of 1nctalsuch as are usually found invelocipedes and the like-and in which the spokes are made of thin stripsof metal or wires.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction of such wheels, to provide means for tightening andregulating the tension of the spokes, whereby all the spokes may betightened or released at one and the same operation and. with greatfacility. i

To these ends the invention consists in the details of constructionhereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicate like parts, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a wheel enibodyingmy improvements; Fig. 2, a side elevation of part of a wheel. Fig. 3 isan enlarged detail illustrating how the spokes are connected to thefelly. Fig. 4 is a view of the annular adjusting-plate. Fig. 5 is a viewof the ring through which the spokes are passed and by which they aredistended.

The letter A designates a tire and felly, which compose the outer rim ofthe wheel, and preferably made integral or of one piece of metal, and isT-shaped in cross-section. It is the hub, screw-threaded on one end toreceive ordinarynuts, a and b, andalso the conical nut c. The annularplate I) slides freely over the screw-threaded hub, and is provided onone side with a number of short radial grooves, into which the spokesfit. The ring I is provided with transverse grooves or notches 7L on itsinner edge corresponding in number to the number of grooves e on thean-' nular plate (I. The spokes are made of flexible wire or strips ofmetal, one piece of which serves as two spokes in the wheel, and isbentaround through the ring 9 and into one of the notches 71. The ends ofthe spokes are prefcrably fastened to the felly by passing them throughholes bored diagonally through said felly and riveting or clinching theends on the other side.

Heretofore in fastening the ends of spokes to a felly of theconstruction shown the hole was bored parallel to the hub. Thisnecessitated the bending of the spoke at the attaching end to nearly aright angle in order to pass it through the hole, thereby, rendering thespoke weak at that point and less capable of bearing the strain to whichit is subjected. By making the hole diagonal the angle of the bend inthe wire is more obtuse and the strain consequently more nearly direct.

In appearance one side of the hub is pref erably a facsimile of theother; but in this instance I make oneof them stationary, the tighteningof the spokes being performed by the operation of one side only, and inthe manner which I will now proceed to describe. 1f the spokes areloose, the outside nut, b, is turned entirely off thehub or away fromthe conical nut, and with a wrench or other suit able tool the conicalnut is turned away from the other end of the hub. The edge of the baseof the conical nut projects under or behind that portion of the spokewhich passes through the grooves in. the ring r As it is turned awayfrom the other end of the hub it brings with it the ring g and theconnected spokes, thus increasing the distance between the ring andfolly, and consequently tightening the spokes. The plate (1 is thenplaced up and held by nut a against the conical nut,with the grooves cfitting over the wire at those points where it passes around the ring g.The nut b is then screwed up against the outer end of the conical nut,thus preventing any accidental outward turning of the conical nut, whilethe plate (6 and nut a prevent the inward turning thereof.

If it is desired to loosen the spokes, the operation is nearly thereverse of that described for tightening them.

Let it be understood I do not limit my invention to the employment inone wheel of all the parts which I have described, as such employment isnot absolutelynecessary, as,for instance, I might dispense with theannular plate (1 or the nut b; nor do I limit my invention to preciselythe constructions shown.

hat I claim is 1. The combination, in a wheel having two spokes formedof a single piece of wire having its two ends fastenedin the folly,substantially as described, of the ring g, having notches h, throughwhich the wire is passed 5 and retained in position, and theinternallyscrew-threaded conical nut 0 on the hub B, the edges of thebase of said conical nut engaging the ring 9 or spokes to tighten thesame, as set forth.

2. The combination, 'in a wheel having spokes, substantially asdescribed, of the ring 1 having notches lathe spokes passed through saidring and held in position in the notches, the internally-screw-threadedconical nut c, 15 hub 13, the annular plate (I, having the short radialgrooves e, and the nut a, to hold said plate against the spoke-retainingring, all as set forth.

3. In a vehicle-Wheel, substantially as described, a combined tire andfelly made T 20 shape in cross-section, having the diagonal holes in thefolly portion to receive the ends of the spokes of the Wheel, as shown,and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 25 my hand this 1st day ofOctober, A. D. 1883.

- SAMUEL T. \YILLIAMS.

Witnesses ARTHUR (I. WEBB, Enxns'r C. When.

